Lust is about taking, while love is about giving

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If you’re in love with your partner, you’re probably thinking about ways to show your appreciation and devotion; yet, if you’re only in lust, you might be more selfish, only looking for self-pleasure. “The essence of lust, along with the traits of jealousy and pursuit of honor, is based upon ‘devouring.’ Specifically, it’s the sensation that leads one to try and take and swallow-up what someone else has or is, and incorporate it as part of you,” says Shlomo Zalman Bregman, a rabbi and matchmaker in New York City “In fact, this is a major reason why a person driven by lust often has a burning desire to physically consume their mate through the fires of their passion,” he adds. On the other hand, the difference between love and lust is that love is about giving and investing in another person, he explains. And, if you stop doing things to show appreciation and gratitude, your relationship might be headed for a breakup.

Isadora Baum is a freelance writer and content marketer, as well as a certified health coach. She writes for various publications, such as Bustle, Shape, Abbott Nutrition Newsroom, Men's Health, Clean Plates, the Vitamin Shoppe, SoulCycle, and more. She also can't resist a good sample, a glass of red wine or strong margarita, a new HIIT class, or an easy laugh. Beyond magazines, she helps grow different businesses through blogging and content marketing strategy. To read her work or inquire, please visit her website: isadorabaum.com.